Kristin Rudolph (@Kristin_Rudolph)
A recent article on the CNN Belief Blog highlighted the trend of Evangelical colleges inching toward culturally acceptable views of homosexuality. The article highlighted Wheaton College, which in February established an official group for “students to explore questions of gender identity and sexual orientation.” Although Wheaton College receives the most attention because of its prominence, other Evangelical schools are making similar moves.
Last week at Eastern Nazarene College (ENC) the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) student group called ‘Love of God Bringing Triumph,’ announced the college administration approved an LGBT support group through the school’s counseling and health services center. Although the administration denied the group’s initial request for an official club because of concerns about breaches in confidentiality, the new “support group” through the counseling center will ensure the privacy of all students involved.
The new group will only be open to those who identify as “members of the LGBT community, and will walk alongside them as they wrestle through issues that are common to being LGBT.” Some students complained that facilitating the group through the school’s counseling center implies homosexuality is a problem requiring counseling, rather than a legitimate orientation to be affirmed. One student told the college newspaper “I don’t want this to be an excuse for those kids to be put into counseling, because that’s not what they need, they need our support as a community.”
Dr. Vernon Wesley, vice president for Student Development at ENC acknowledged “The questions of ‘affirming’ and ‘condoning’ as a Christian college continue to hover over us.” Athena Horton, a senior who submitted the initial proposal for an official LGBT club said “By even allowing a group to happen in this format, ENC’s administration is saying to the student body that they care about the wellbeing of all of its students—not just the straight ones.” Further, she is “grateful that we have [this group], and that we are beginning a journey that is moving in a positive direction when it comes to the LGBT among us.”
In another article for the student newspaper, Horton said “Being LGBT in society today is difficult enough with the stigmas associated with it, but being a part of a Christian community whose denominational stance is that ‘Homosexuality is one means by which human sexuality is perverted … and subject to the wrath of God’ (as stated in the Church of the Nazarene Manual ’09-’13) is [even more difficult].’”
Conservative Christian colleges have become a battleground for the LGBT movement’s goal to gain universal acceptance and affirmation. Traditional Christian teachings on sexuality are an affront to their goals, so groups like Soulforce have aggressively targeted Christian campuses to further their agenda. ENC’s group is not the result of Soulforce activity, but illustrates the continued trend of students, alumni, faculty and staff of Christian colleges shifting toward a progressive approach to sexuality. Despite this shift, for LGBT activists establishing a student group within a counseling center is insufficient and even offensive because it indicates homosexual practice is aberrant behavior. Consequently, activists view such groups as a mere first step toward unqualified affirmation.
Soulforce was established in 1998 “to end the religious and political oppression of LGBTQ people” and they specifically target young Christian students through their “Equality Rides” to “hostile” campuses across the country. These “Rides” have “catalyzed conversations and dialogue at these otherwise silent institutions. [Soulforce has] witnessed real change in practices and policies.” They complain counseling given to students who openly identify as LGBT is “harmful,” “ex-gay,” or “‘reparative’ therapy.”
Through Equality Ride’s seven year history, 14 Christian colleges they visited have relaxed policies on homosexuality. In the same time, “Twenty-five schools and counting have some form of supportive student group, and at least 20 have LGBTQ alumni organizations [not necessarily Christian schools].”
Soulforce knows they will sway young Evangelicals by starting seemingly innocuous “conversations and dialogue,” because many students are unsure what they believe about homosexuality. “Equality Rides” include sessions on scriptural interpretation, intended to dismiss biblical prohibitions of homosexuality.
Without receiving clear instruction on traditional Christian and scriptural teachings about sexuality, often these young believers are ill equipped to defend a faithful perspective on homosexual practice. They are bombarded with messages about “equality,” “tolerance,” and are called “bigots” if they don’t affirm a homosexual lifestyle. When they don’t know how to respond to reinterpretations of scripture, some ultimately conclude there is no legitimate reason to view homosexuality as sinful; that such a belief has no place among their tolerant, nonjudgmental generation.
Christian institutions will have to clearly address homosexuality as the culture increasingly affirms it and more people within the Church openly struggle with same-sex attraction. It is understandable that administrators at these schools recognize the challenges Christian students experiencing same-sex attraction face and want to help and disciple them. At the same time, historically faithful Christian academic institutions should recognize that the ultimate goal of establishing groups expressly for students who identify as LGBT is to legitimize the idea that one’s “sexual orientation” is an inherent and defining characteristic of his personhood.
Christian colleges are communities of young people who are figuring out who they are and what direction their lives will take. They are made up of broken, human people struggling with innumerable sins, all needing discipleship, mentorship, and guidance. Homosexuality is one among many issues students face, and should be addressed with genuine Christian love. Our culture is confused about what it means to be human, and uniquely a man or woman and the Church ought to be a light of clarity amid the chaos. Although a campus is not a church, these institutions play a key role in shaping their students’ lives and they are responsible to clearly teach and equip Christian students to follow God’s design for their lives, including their sexuality.
Comment by Daryl Densford on April 3, 2013 at 3:11 pm
We have to give the administration at ENC the benefit of the doubt and trust that they will maintain the standards expected of a Nazarene institution and not even suggest anything contrary to the agreed upon view of homosexual activity as described in the Manual, while still supporting and helping with love those who may identify as LGBT.
Hopefully, the “support” they receive will help them live with their homosexual orientation in a way that is compatible with Biblical teaching. That is a difficult road to travel and needs much support and encouragement.
Also, I hope that this “support group” doesn’t turn into an LGBT rights lobby to further the agenda being pushed by the secular (and some sacred) LGBT communities.
Comment by Daryl Densford on April 11, 2013 at 10:11 am
I have been in communication with ENC and have been assured that the administration is in full agreement with the Church of the Nazarene position on homosexuality.
it is unfortunate that pro-gay groups have misinterpreted the school’s support of individuals, but ENC, in this action, has not come out in support of, or in affirmation of homosexual activity.
Having the “group” meet at the counseling center is a way that they can help students who may be “at risk” as a result of their sexual orientation or questions about their orientation.
Comment by Marco Bell on April 11, 2013 at 10:45 am
Pardon my ignorance, but what does “At Risk” refer to?
Comment by Jeff Paton on May 23, 2018 at 9:29 am
Allowing a pro-homosexual group onto your campus is the camel’s nose under the tent. Christian Churches and Colleges do not exist to coddle unbiblical views, but to save people from their sins and prepare them for the work of God. Being “pennied in” and wastebaskets of water leaning against a door, is a universal College prank. to suggest that some “poor homosexual” was being picked on, does not fly! A Christian school or Church is not meant to be a “friendly place” for sin. Try being a Christian on a secular University’s campus if you think your experience was bad!
Comment by Bob Marville on April 30, 2019 at 4:19 pm
How about assault of “poor homosexuals”? That should be worth a few dollars of pennies, even by your accounting, I would think. I’m an alum of ENC who has witnessed that.
Comment by Ramon Estevez on April 3, 2013 at 3:55 pm
Judging from link you provided, Wheaton’s approach is to depict this gay group as a benevolent entity to prevent suicide, after all, what Christian would object to keeping another Christian from doing that? In taking this approach, homosexuals are cast in the victim role, with the evil intolerant society (including Christians) in the villain role. This is just another case of a manufactured crisis – after all, if they’re old enough to attend college, they’re old enough to be familiar with what the Bible says about homosexuality, and if they have doubts about their “orientation,” no one is forcing them to choose a college whose standards are (or were) based on the Bible. This is basic Political Correctness at work – everyone has the “right” not to be made uncomfortable, so even the supposedly Christian student who makes the choice to attend a Christian college can now decide that the college’s standards make him uncomfortable – so get rid of those standards. How exactly can you have an evangelical college with no standards?
Give Wheaton 5 years and their pro-gay group will be as loud and pushy as the gay groups at the secular colleges, the administration will be just as cowardly in caving in to their demands. Policy dictated by the most aggressive minorities, browbeating others by claiming that their repression is driving innocent victims to suicide. Pretty shameless emotional manipulation, also shameless that people are dumb enough to fall for it.
Comment by lwaddell123 on April 4, 2013 at 3:43 pm
The Nazarene Church has already compromised it’s integrity by embracing the emerging church and its gurus Rob Bell and Brian McLaren, both of whom endorse homosexuality with Brian McLaren going so far as to perform a “wedding ceremony” for his Gay son. Rob Bell teaches universalism (see his book Love Wins) so it would logically follow that he would endorse homosexuality because of his belief that no sin can keep one from heaven. Both of these men have been brought to Nazarene college campuses to speak and apparently the denomination has endorsed emergent philosophy.
Comment by Daryl Densford on April 5, 2013 at 9:31 am
lwaddell123, The Church of the Nazarene as a whole has not gone to the extreme you express. Some of the schools may have had these speakers (aren’t universities for exploration?). Most emergent theology is being espoused by a few individual ministers without the whole-hearted endorsement by the denomination.
As for homosexuality, the Church of the Nazarene has a definite and printed/stated position against homosexual behavior which has been reiterated by published statements by the General Superintendents. This will not be changing any time soon (though it may be softened to parallel it with other sins).
Most denominations have fringe adherents who go a different direction than that of the denomination. This does not negate the denomination’s integrity.
Comment by Marco Bell on April 4, 2013 at 5:47 pm
I thought I already agreed with you two in an earlier post, yet now, it doesn’t appear in the thread. Wow! The first time I agree, and it’s not there for proof!?
Pingback by Evangelical Colleges Inching Toward Affirmation of Homosexuality | the northampton seminar on April 5, 2013 at 9:52 am
[…] A recent article on the CNN Belief Blog highlighted the trend of Evangelical colleges inching toward culturally acceptable views of homosexuality. The article highlighted Wheaton College, which in February established an official group for “students to explore questions of gender identity and sexual orientation.” Although Wheaton College receives the most attention because of its prominence, other Evangelical schools are making similar moves. http://juicyecumenism.com/2013/04/03/evangelical-colleges-inching-toward-affirmation-of-homosexualit… […]
Pingback by Evangelical Colleges Inching Toward Affirmation of Homosexuality … | Church Ministry on April 9, 2013 at 6:31 am
[…] Church Ministry Source- Google Blog Search- College Ministry […]
Pingback by Evangelical Colleges Inching Toward Affirmation of Homosexuality | Truth2Freedom's Blog on April 9, 2013 at 1:39 pm
[…] A recent article on the CNN Belief Blog highlighted the trend of Evangelical colleges inching toward culturally acceptable views of homosexuality. The article highlighted Wheaton College, which in February established an official group for “students to explore questions of gender identity and sexual orientation.” Although Wheaton College receives the most attention because of its prominence, other Evangelical schools are making similar moves. ….. Click here for full story […]
Comment by Tom Fiola on April 9, 2013 at 1:57 pm
This is one of the more neutral articles I have read in awhile. A quick background on me, my understanding is that I was born gay, I also have a large family history of gays. When I was younger, my grandmother did everything but shove me through a window of a Jesuit Seminary (my parents couldn’t afford the tuition), my grandmother believed that little boys like me belonged in the ministry. A few years later I was drafted and ended up in Vietnam for 19 months, on getting out, I wanted to stay out… not to be, my grandmother & mom chimed in, wanting grand babies and to put my interests in men on some sort of shelf as if it were some sort of ‘rite of passage’. I got married, my wife knew very well my sexual orientation interests and that I would honor our vows. Had to wonderful kids, no grandkids yet. I was married 32 years when the ex- filed for divorce, a very messy one at that. I opted to come out of the closet then, 11 years ago and am happily partnered. I am a chemist/engineer and retired.
I have mixed views of the gay lifestyle, I went through hell on earth concealing my drives while married… I could go no place including simple gatherings where men would be shirtless and more, without having a measure of arousal…. My prayer life was very strong, but I always felt I was in some way lying to God, not to mention family/friends/jobs…. and me. During the divorce when I came out within reason, I felt that a great weight had been lifted off of me…. then the rejection started, I was fired from my job, my family/friends walked away and I have been booted from several evangelical churches…. I would trade my gay drives in a hot second, why in the world would someone lightly, move into a same sex life, knowing that you are setting yourself up for a life that is caving in on you, worse than many blacks encountered years ago.
I have know Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior for 40+ years, the Lord has fought ALL my battles, though sometimes it didn’t seem that He was (read Ps 91 daily), I am a conservative, a republican, pro-Israel, pro-life that is just a normal guy that happens to be gay, my partner has the same interests.
Here’s the rub, my kind of gay person probably makes up 90% of the GLBT population, they want to live their lives and be left along…. the left is no different than that of any other population segment in this country, they tend to be in your face for all of there issues…. Gay references in the Bible all seem to be something relating to some kind of idolatry, bad behavior…. the party animals/ Hollywood types. John 3:16 says everything that needs to be said. Jesus rephrased the Ten Commandments to two, Love God with all your heart, mind, body and soul… AND love your neighbor as yourself…. there must be an awful lot of people out there that hate themselves; The prizes is Jesus, not minding your neighbors business, which takes your eyes off of Jesus. The individual road we take in our walk with the Lord, is ours, not yours.
The issue of same-sex marriage, I have mixed feelings about it, I agree with the traditional interpretation of marriage and have trouble getting my head around it in a same-sex setting, BUT… I am 100% for legal relationship/partnership in writing/notarized that gives me and my partner every benefit of a traditional marriage. Relationships seems to have the same pitfalls as a regular marriages, but with them being not recognized legally, most of the carnage of a break-up people never hear about….
Pingback by Evangelical Colleges Inching Toward Affirmation of Homosexuality | Juicy Ecumenism – The Institute on Religion & Democracy’s Blog / Apostasy | JESUSCHRIST / YESHUA THE MESSIAH IS COMING SOON ! / JESUCRISTO EL MESIAS VIENE PRONTO ! / JOHN 3 on April 9, 2013 at 3:18 pm
[…] Evangelical Colleges Inching Toward Affirmation of Homosexuality | Juicy Ecumenism – The Insti…. Apostasy […]
Comment by John William Thompson on April 22, 2015 at 9:49 pm
21 years ago, ENC was not very kind place for anyone that even seemed gay. Try having your room broken into, things stolen, water thrown into your room under the door. Pennied door so you couldn’t get out. OH and a lantern battery (heavy one) thrown into your dorm room window. THOSE are my memories of that damned place.
Comment by Paul Dickson on April 12, 2019 at 2:04 pm
It is all too common today to accept as normal that which is clearly unbiblical in order to appear loving. The apostle Paul spoke (Romans 1:27) of the act and consequences of abandoning natural relations for unnatural. I believe he used the term “due penalty for their perversion”. One cannot violate scripture and expect to be blessed by God as one of His own.